title: Effect of multivitamins on plasma homocysteine in patients with the 5,10 methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T homozygous state.
abstract: The role of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) as a cardiovascular risk factor remains a matter of debate, while it correlates with folates, it demonstrates inverse correlation with plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels and vitamin B12 levels and reduces plasma Hcy levels following supplementation with multivitamins. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that administering multivitamins at specific doses for 90 days restores normal plasma Hcy levels in women who are homozygous for the thermolabile variant of 5,10 methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T). We enrolled 106 healthy females aged between 30 and 42 years, who were non-smokers, non-vegetarian, normotensive and who had no history of food abuse in the previous months. Only females were enrolled in order to rule out any bias due to the variation in Hcy plasma concentrations between males and females. Patient blood sampling was performed in order to determine plasma Hcy, serum folic acid and vitamin B12 levels. Furthermore, molecular characterization of the C677T polymorphism present in the MTHFR gene, was also performed. The results of this study demonstrated that supplementation with specific multivitamins restores normal plasma Hcy levels, regardless of the MTHFR genotype. Furthermore, it is unnecessary to adminster high doses of folate to reduce plasma Hcy levels, and administering high doses of folate may cause pro-inflammatory and pro-proliferative effects.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Cytogenetic and Molecular Genetics, Madonna delle Grazie Hospital, Matera, Italy. domenicodelledera68@gmail.com
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dell'edera
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tinelli
authors.forename: Giusi Natalia
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Milazzo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malvasi
authors.forename: Carone
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Domenico
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pacella
authors.forename: Compagnoni
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pierluigi
authors.forename: Tarantino
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Giuseppe
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marcello
authors.forename: Lomurno
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Francesco
authors.forename: Annunziata Anna
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Epifania
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D014805:Vitamin B 12